The Boy Friend (Original title)The Boyfriend (Help search title)
Dates: 1971 (Copyright), 28 May 1972 (Release)Countries: USA, United KingdomDirected by: Ken Russell
Synopsis: Period musical. Based around Sandy Wilson's musical stageplay of the same title, Russell's extravagant production storms between delightful tackiness and exuberant fantasy in pastiche of 1920's stage musical (after Wilson) and Busby Berkeley's film musicals of the 1930's. Twiggy plays Polly Browne, nervous stage manager of a production of "The Boyfriend" who is obliged to take the place of Rita, leading lady, (Glenda Jackson) who has sprained her ankle. Russell's film follows the performance, which is a disaster onstage and off, as the cast compete for the attention of De Thrill, a Hollywood director in the audience. Simultaneously we follow the romantic entanglement of Polly and Tony, played by the young, blue-eyed blonde Christopher Gable.
Genre: Musical
Subject: Theatre
Releases
Date: 1971Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: not specified - Colour - Metrocolor - SoundRuntime: 125 mins Length: 11250 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: March 2019Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 137 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Title: EMI and the ‘pre-heritage’ period filmAuthor: MONK, ClaireArticle type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores the series of period dramas produced by EMI in the 1970s and early 1980s, placing them within their industrial and cultural context and examining their relationship with the post-1979 'heritage film' cycle. Discusses a range of titles including 'The Boy Friend' (1971), 'Lady Caroline Lamb' (1972), 'That'll Be the Day' (1973), 'A Passage to India' (1984) and four Agatha Christie adaptations produced in partnership with GW Films. Part of the special issue 'EMI Films and British Cinema History'.
In: Film Review April 1997 Pages: 64-69
Title: call sheetAuthor: MAXFORD, Howard Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article about the making and success of THE BOY FRIEND with several statements by cast and crew members
In: The Listener v118 n3018 2 Jul 1987 Page: 35
Title: [The Listener - v118 n3018 2 Jul 1987: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v39 n458 March 1972 Page: 48
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v39 n458 March 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Photoplay v23 n3 March 1972 Pages: 32-33
Title: [Photoplay - v23 n3 March 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Films and Filming v18 n7 April 1972 Pages: 49-50
Title: [Films and Filming - v18 n7 April 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Cinema TV Today n9966 5 Feb 1972 Page: 24
Title: [Cinema TV Today - n9966 5 Feb 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v41 n2 Spring 1972 Pages: 111-112
Title: [Sight and Sound - v41 n2 Spring 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Positif n139 June 1972 Pages: 51-54
Title: [Positif - n139 June 1972: no known title]Language: French
In: The Hollywood Reporter v217 n36 27 Aug 1971 Page: 8
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v217 n36 27 Aug 1971: no known title]Language: English
Description: Credits
In: Kine Weekly n3316 1 May 1971 Page: 13
Title: [Kine Weekly - n3316 1 May 1971: no known title]Language: English
Description: Production details.
In: Films and Filming v18 n1 October 1971 Pages: 34-5
Title: [Films and Filming - v18 n1 October 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: Filmfacts v14 n19 1971 Page: 496
Title: [Filmfacts - v14 n19 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 22 Dec 1971 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 22 Dec 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v219 n11 16 Dec 1971 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v219 n11 16 Dec 1971: no known title]Language: English
Dates: 1971 (Copyright), 28 May 1972 (Release)Countries: USA, United KingdomDirected by: Ken Russell
Synopsis: Period musical. Based around Sandy Wilson's musical stageplay of the same title, Russell's extravagant production storms between delightful tackiness and exuberant fantasy in pastiche of 1920's stage musical (after Wilson) and Busby Berkeley's film musicals of the 1930's. Twiggy plays Polly Browne, nervous stage manager of a production of "The Boyfriend" who is obliged to take the place of Rita, leading lady, (Glenda Jackson) who has sprained her ankle. Russell's film follows the performance, which is a disaster onstage and off, as the cast compete for the attention of De Thrill, a Hollywood director in the audience. Simultaneously we follow the romantic entanglement of Polly and Tony, played by the young, blue-eyed blonde Christopher Gable.
Genre: Musical
Subject: Theatre
Releases
Date: 1971Country: United KingdomRelease type: unknownFormat: not specified - Colour - Metrocolor - SoundRuntime: 125 mins Length: 11250 FeetDialogue (original): English
Date: March 2019Country: United KingdomRelease type: InternetFormat: not specified - Colour - SoundRuntime: 137 mins Dialogue (original): EnglishDistributor: BFIPlayer
Articles held in BFI Reuben Library
(15)
In: Journal of British cinema and television v18 n1 2021 Pages: 50-76Title: EMI and the ‘pre-heritage’ period filmAuthor: MONK, ClaireArticle type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Explores the series of period dramas produced by EMI in the 1970s and early 1980s, placing them within their industrial and cultural context and examining their relationship with the post-1979 'heritage film' cycle. Discusses a range of titles including 'The Boy Friend' (1971), 'Lady Caroline Lamb' (1972), 'That'll Be the Day' (1973), 'A Passage to India' (1984) and four Agatha Christie adaptations produced in partnership with GW Films. Part of the special issue 'EMI Films and British Cinema History'.
In: Film Review April 1997 Pages: 64-69
Title: call sheetAuthor: MAXFORD, Howard Article type: ArticleLanguage: English
Description: Article about the making and success of THE BOY FRIEND with several statements by cast and crew members
In: The Listener v118 n3018 2 Jul 1987 Page: 35
Title: [The Listener - v118 n3018 2 Jul 1987: no known title]Language: English
In: Monthly Film Bulletin v39 n458 March 1972 Page: 48
Title: [Monthly Film Bulletin - v39 n458 March 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Photoplay v23 n3 March 1972 Pages: 32-33
Title: [Photoplay - v23 n3 March 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Films and Filming v18 n7 April 1972 Pages: 49-50
Title: [Films and Filming - v18 n7 April 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Cinema TV Today n9966 5 Feb 1972 Page: 24
Title: [Cinema TV Today - n9966 5 Feb 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Sight and Sound v41 n2 Spring 1972 Pages: 111-112
Title: [Sight and Sound - v41 n2 Spring 1972: no known title]Language: English
In: Positif n139 June 1972 Pages: 51-54
Title: [Positif - n139 June 1972: no known title]Language: French
In: The Hollywood Reporter v217 n36 27 Aug 1971 Page: 8
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v217 n36 27 Aug 1971: no known title]Language: English
Description: Credits
In: Kine Weekly n3316 1 May 1971 Page: 13
Title: [Kine Weekly - n3316 1 May 1971: no known title]Language: English
Description: Production details.
In: Films and Filming v18 n1 October 1971 Pages: 34-5
Title: [Films and Filming - v18 n1 October 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: Filmfacts v14 n19 1971 Page: 496
Title: [Filmfacts - v14 n19 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: Variety 22 Dec 1971 Page: 6
Title: [Variety - 22 Dec 1971: no known title]Language: English
In: The Hollywood Reporter v219 n11 16 Dec 1971 Page: 3
Title: [The Hollywood Reporter - v219 n11 16 Dec 1971: no known title]Language: English